Mr. Kennedy is anxious ... no he's biting at the bit to get back in the ring. That's what a five-month layoff will do for a guy with a competitive spirit.

"I tore my lat, the tendon was right off the bone, underneath my armpit," he said. "I had it surgically re-attached.

"The most painful thing, though, was sitting and waiting. I'm back now, so it's water under the bridge.

Kennedy has a very distinct character, one that announces himself before matches and one that's a bit high on the cocky meter.

"I know it's an old cliche, but it's really me, just with the volume turned up," said Mr. Kennedy. "I'm cocky by nature.

"The evolution of the character started five or six years ago when I was wrestling as Kamikaze Ken. I wasn't sure how to approach my interviews, then one day a guy who I thought was a friend of mine pissed me off and I lit into him. The stuff I was saying ... well, the two guys who were with me were rolling on the floor with laughter. They said, 'That's Kamikaze Ken.' And the lightbulb clicked on."

He's looking forward to being in the ring again, doing shows like Kamloops and Kelowna this weekend, and hopefully at the MTS Center in Winnipeg July 8. Tickets for that show went on sale yesterday.

And he's looking forward to making his TV return.

"I feel like I can get in there and roll with anybody," he said. "But I'd like to roll with Rey Mysterio."

And if he had his dream match?

"'Stone Cold' Steve Austin," he said without hesitation. "He's the reason I got into this. I was working as a security guard at a nuclear plant and I really hated my boss. I watched him (and his adversity with WWE boss Vince McMahon) and I fell in love with it."

- So far for ECW's One Night Stand on June 11, it's Edge and Mick Foley vs. Tommy Dreamer and Terry Funk; and Rob Van Dam vs. John Cena.

- Kane finally revealed that May 19 was the day his adopted family was killed in a fire. Oh ... and he heard "the voice" again. "You thought this was over? It'll never be over." Is it just me, or is that The Undertaker's voice. Kane's movie, See No Evil, is doing well at the box office, but has been ripped by critics. Ah, what the hell do they know anyway?

- Rage Wrestling Entertainment will hold a show at the Polyvalente De L'Erabliere (500 Rue De Cannes) in Gatineau, June 3, at 7:30 p.m. Among the matches: RWE champ Drake Styles vs. Thunder; Tray Humongous vs. Prof. Adib Monsour; Zakk "The Freak" Manson vs. The Jaguar. Dave Titan, Damian Styles and Frank "The Beast" Bradley will be among the others appearing. The show is a fundraiser to help a handicapped association in Gatineau.

- IWM will hold a show June 3, at 8 p.m., at the Doubles Fun Club (Travelodge on Fermor) in Winnipeg. The main event will be TJ Bratt and Rob Stardom vs. Zack Mercury and Donnie Dicaprio. Another match will feature the ladies.

- Catch Trish Stratus, Pam Anderson and Brendan Fraser on June 3 at the red carpet for Canada's Walk of Fame. For free tickets to the show, e-mail your contact info to etalkredcarpet@ctv.ca or call (416) 355-3933 (maximum of six tickets per person).